Regan was President when I was a kid and his leadership garnered my interest in politics and social studies. My parents were consistent voters and I can remember going to the polling places with them. I always looked forward to the day I could cast my vote in an election and registered as soon as I turned 18. As far as I was concerned, it was a civic duty to participate in the electoral process, a privilege paid for by the blood of men who died to see our rights established and maintained.
Now I know that I’m not truly obligated to vote. It’s not a violation of some sort if I fail to do so. No constable will come looking for me as if I skipped out on jury duty (again.) I’m truly not “duty bound” to go vote.
But it is my right to do so. And as much as I like my neighbors, I don’t expect them to bear the burden alone for choosing our elected officials. I feel responsible for ensuring my voice is heard in the election, irrespective of how little difference my single vote might be.
People who elect to stay home instead are by default choosing to let others cast determining votes for the future of our community, state and nation. These non-participants are as much American as those waiting in lines at the polls however their lack of involvement lessens their voice in our form of government for it is the people that they failed to vote for whom will decide the future for our way of life.
Thomas Jefferson said, “We do not have a government by a majority of the people, we have a government by a majority of the people who participate.” By design, “we the people” are to be the pinnacle of power in our democratic process yet many of our schools no longer teach civics courses and students have little, if any, idea on how our government works. To that end many of our eligible voters are horribly uninformed and thus easily manipulated by an oftentimes corrupt political process.
In the 2012 elections, some 93 million Americans who could have voted failed to do so. 93 million - that’s more than either of the presidential candidates received. I hope none of those non-voters, who failed to express their opinion via ballot, uttered any complaints thereafter because if one is unwilling to go vote, they should be equally unmoved to fuss about the election results.
Patriots shed blood to secure our right to vote for our nation’s leadership. Women marched in the streets during the suffrage movement of the early-1900s and people of color had to fight for the right during the Civil Rights movement. While not a “duty” per se, this right is far too precious to remain unused by so many. Go vote!
Now I know that I’m not truly obligated to vote. It’s not a violation of some sort if I fail to do so. No constable will come looking for me as if I skipped out on jury duty (again.) I’m truly not “duty bound” to go vote.
But it is my right to do so. And as much as I like my neighbors, I don’t expect them to bear the burden alone for choosing our elected officials. I feel responsible for ensuring my voice is heard in the election, irrespective of how little difference my single vote might be.
People who elect to stay home instead are by default choosing to let others cast determining votes for the future of our community, state and nation. These non-participants are as much American as those waiting in lines at the polls however their lack of involvement lessens their voice in our form of government for it is the people that they failed to vote for whom will decide the future for our way of life.
Thomas Jefferson said, “We do not have a government by a majority of the people, we have a government by a majority of the people who participate.” By design, “we the people” are to be the pinnacle of power in our democratic process yet many of our schools no longer teach civics courses and students have little, if any, idea on how our government works. To that end many of our eligible voters are horribly uninformed and thus easily manipulated by an oftentimes corrupt political process.
In the 2012 elections, some 93 million Americans who could have voted failed to do so. 93 million - that’s more than either of the presidential candidates received. I hope none of those non-voters, who failed to express their opinion via ballot, uttered any complaints thereafter because if one is unwilling to go vote, they should be equally unmoved to fuss about the election results.
Patriots shed blood to secure our right to vote for our nation’s leadership. Women marched in the streets during the suffrage movement of the early-1900s and people of color had to fight for the right during the Civil Rights movement. While not a “duty” per se, this right is far too precious to remain unused by so many. Go vote!
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